***Willow Pond***
Jennifer Hart was in the study, going over plans for the next Fundraiser for the Mission Street Orphanage. They were having it at their house this year, and had planned a fun evening. They were going to have a casino night. They were going to set up a huge tent outside and there was going to be tables of all kinds-craps, poker, roulette, blackjack, the works. Jonathan had ordered a couple banks of slot machines as well. They were having it catered, and had even hired wait staff. And a party at the Hart's wouldn't be complete without dancing, and a silent and live auction for the kids.
Jennifer loved putting these things together, but she wished Jonathan took more of an interest. She always seemed exhausted by the time the party came around, because she had spent hours doing everything while he went to the office like it was business as usual.
She tried not to feel resentful, but it wasn't easy. She stopped and took a deep breath, and realized that she needed to eat and get away from the planning for a while.
She went upstairs and took a long bubble bath, and put on some lounging clothes. She came downstairs and made herself a salad, and took it to the couch.
She turned on the TV, and got lost in a movie.
Jonathan called around 3.
"Hi darling, how are you?"
"Good, how are you?"
"Ready to take my beautiful wife out to dinner".
"Your beautiful wife kind of wants to order in, if that's ok".
"My beautiful wife doesn't know that we are meeting someone for dinner".
"Your beautiful wife is intrigued".
"Your handsome husband got a phone call today from someone who wants to meet up with us for dinner. Jeff and Stacie Griffin".
"Your beautiful wife will get dressed and go with you to meet her oldest and dearest friend".
"Your handsome husband loves you".
"My handsome husband owes me one".
"Oh really?"
"Yes. I have been planning the mission street fundraiser alone, and it's been a little tiring".
"Well, we will talk about it tonight and see if we can ease your load, darling".
"That's all I ask".
"I love you, Red"
"I love you, Jonathan Charles. Where are we going?"
"We said we would decide when we met up. Have Max take you to the office at 5".
"Deal".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up, and put the phone back in the cradle.
She ran upstairs and changed and did her hair and makeup. She chose some black and pink palazzo pants, with a sort of paisley design, and a bright lavender top, and some black flip flop sandals.
Max dropped her at Hart Industries right on time, and then headed to his poker game.
***Hart Industries***
Jennifer took the elevator to Jonathan's floor, and headed to his office.
She found him at his desk.
"Hi darling".
"Hi, don't you look beautiful".
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Thank you, darling".
"The Griffin's should be here any minute. Got any ideas on where to take them?"
"La Scala".
"I knew you would say that".
"Did you have somewhere else in mind?"
"The Pier, or Chasen's".
"Anywhere is fine with me".
"So did you make headway on the planning for the fundraiser?"
She wagged her finger at him.
"Uh-huh. We are not talking about that, it's only going to bring my headache back".
He pulled her close.
"I'm sorry". He kissed her nice and slow, just like she liked.
There was a knock at the door. They turned to see the Griffins.
"Hi! So great to see you!"
Jennifer and Stacie hugged and started chatting.
Jennifer hugged Jeff too, and he and Jonathan shook hands.
Jennifer and Stacie had been high school friends, and then later sorority sisters in college.
Jennifer and Stacie went to Jonathan's couch, and sat down and started catching up, oblivious to everyone around them.
Jeff and Jonathan were talking about business for a little bit. They actually finalized their deal while Stacie and Jennifer were chatting.
Jonathan looked over, and saw that the women had kicked their shoes off and were curled up on the couch.
After letting them chat for about 20 minutes, Jonathan went over to them.
"Darling…if we could get a word in edgewise, we would like to take you lovely ladies to dinner".
"Sorry, darling".
He helped her up off the couch, and she kissed him.
"Where do you ladies want to go?"
Jennifer and Stacie spoke in unison. "La Scala".
They got their shoes on and headed ahead of the men, and Jonathan and Jeff just followed behind, as he locked up the place.
***La Scala***
Jennifer and Stacie were chatting about their old friends from high school.
"You have to come to the reunion, Jennifer. It just isn't the same without you".
"I might see if I can swing it. Who usually attends?"
"Well, last time, the only ones missing were you and Ashley Davidson."
"Ashley Davidson…I haven't thought about her in ages".
"That's ok, she thinks enough of herself for all of us". They collapsed into a fit of laughter.
Jonathan couldn't remember the last time he had seen Jennifer so happy.
He gave her a gentle squeeze.
They ordered dinner and the women kept chatting, while Jonathan and Jeff talked business. Jeff owned several packaging plants, and he and Jonathan were doing a deal to package some of Hart Industries items.
Jennifer and Stacie started talking about how they used to meet up for shopping trips in big cities, for long weekends.
"We should resurrect that tradition".
"I agree. Sometimes I miss living in New York. But California stole my heart, along with someone else".
"I understand completely. Jeff got me to move to Seattle".
"Seattle! Well, we are practically neighbors! How long have ya'll lived there?"
"About 8 months".
"Well, welcome to the west coast".
After they finished eating, they were sitting around having coffee.
"Where are you guys staying?"
"Well, we were going to talk to you about that. We had reservations at one place, but they gave away our room when we didn't check in on time because our flight was delayed. So, where do you recommend?"
"A wonderful place-it's quaint, quiet, and feels like home".
"Really? That sounds perfect! Where is it?"
"Our home".
"It is perfect! We would be delighted".
The men paid the check, and everyone headed to the parking lot.
The Griffin's followed the Harts back to Willow Pond.
***Willow Pond***
"Come in, come in… this is the main house. You guys get to pick. You can stay here, in one of the guest rooms. Or, we have a guest house out back if you want a little more privacy".
"Here is fine, you have a lovely home."
"Well, thank you".
Max came out to greet them.
"Max, these are our friends Jeff and Stacie Griffin. This is Max-he's our houseman, our chauffeur, our very good friend".
Max took their bags upstairs to a guest room, and then got everyone some drinks.
Jeff and Jonathan settled in for a couple hands of gin rummy, while Jennifer and Stacie settled onto the couch and started chatting again.
"So, I read in the high school newsletter that Pam Perkins passed away…how tragic".
"Yeah. Grace Carter told me that her husband left her for another woman and she overdosed".
"So awful. She was such a sweet soul".
"I spoke to Jamie McAffee last week. She told me that she went to a gas station, and they have these newspapers where they show people's mug shots. And right there on the front page, was Savannah Lawler's".
"Savannah got arrested? Why, she was as straight laced as anyone. What on earth did she do?"
"Well, you remember how she was best friends after graduation with Mitzi Bails? She was working for Mitzi's family's company and stole money".
"Oh, that's awful. I know Mitzi was devastated".
"She wrote her off and hasn't spoken to her since".
"Can't say I blame her, really".
The conversation shifted to events they were involved in.
"I am supposed to have a co-planner for the fundraiser for the Mission Street Orphanage. However, someone-she shot Jonathan a look- hasn't been helping me".
"All in due time, darling".
"What kinds of things are you planning?"
"Well come on, I'll show you".
Jennifer and Stacie went to the study, where they found Freeway.
"Hi darling! You are such a good boy! This, is Freeway. We found him on the Freeway".
"He sure is a cutie".
Jennifer grabbed the plans and showed them to Stacie.
"We always have a catered spread, a dance floor with a band or DJ, and a live and silent auction. And we always have a theme. This year, we are doing a casino night- we are going to have a huge tent with walls, and that's where all the tables will be. Jonathan ordered a couple banks of slot machines, and we will have those inside. And we are going to hire dealers and wait staff, the whole bit."
"That sounds amazing!"
"It's usually our favorite night of the year".
"Sounds like it. Jeff and I never get to go to things like this".
"Well, you should come to this, and enjoy yourselves".
"We just might".
They sat on the couch in the study and kept chatting.
"Jennifer, did I see on the news that Jonathan had died in a plane crash?"
She nodded.
"It's been a horrible few months".
She poured out the whole story-how she was attacked in their home while he was out of town, and then he went out of town again to have a tumor removed that she didn't know about, and then how he was kidnapped and his impostor died in the plane crash but everyone thought it was him.
"How did you find him?"
"I didn't. I do this thing, when I suffer something tragically. It's like I withdraw inside myself and I don't speak. I was doing that, here at home. I wasn't eating, I was sleeping thanks to heavy sleeping pills, and I was literally just wasting away. I was bouncing around somewhere between he's not dead, and accepting that he was never coming back. So, basically, he made his way home back here, and as soon as I saw him, I fainted. He woke me up, and I fainted again. So, he had Max tell me while he was in the next room and then I questioned him, I didn't believe him. He proved it to me by dancing".
"Dancing?"
"Yeah, we dance a lot. And every time we fox trot, every 5th step, he steps on my foot. So, we foxtrotted and he stepped on my foot and I knew, I knew it was him".
"That's so romantic".
"It is, isn't it?"
Jennifer told her about the issue with Susan, and how they finally resolved things.
"Been there, done that".
"What do you mean?"
"Remember Taffy Davidson?"
"Yes, I do".
"She came in town when we were living in New York, and I invited her to stay with us. It was supposed to be a weekend. She started by saying she had more business to attend to, so she would be there a few more days. On the last night, she slipped something in my drink after dinner. Some kind of pill. I was in the bathroom at the time, and I came back and saw a residue at the bottom. So, I pretended to drink it, and then pretended to be sleepy. Sure enough, she had drugged my husband too. And when I "woke up", I caught her upstairs wearing a blonde wig and in bed with him. She was naked, and she had gotten his boxers off him."
"No taste broad. What did you do?"
"I called the cops and had her arrested for drugging us."
She wiped the tears from her face.
"She's my kids godmother, and I had her arrested for drugging us. She said she just wanted one night with my husband, that's all."
"So what did they do?"
"We pressed charges. She had given him so much of that drug, that he had kidney issues for months. He didn't just sleep for 5 hours, he slept for 5 days. He was admitted to the hospital. We had court last week. We flew home for it, and as soon as she saw us walk in to testify against her, she changed her plea to guilty. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison".
"Wow…you think you know someone".
"I know. She and I were so close-as close as you and I always were. She lived next door to us for ages, she was our kids godmother, she spent holidays with us. And then when Paul left her, she went nuts. Started drinking, lost the house, her job. Had to go to a rehab. That was our first visit with her since she had moved away. And now, it's also our last visit with her ever. That's partly why we moved to the west coast. We just needed a fresh start".
"Isn't it sad how you think some friendships won't last a day and they last longer than the ones you thought would last forever?"
"You and I are proof of that".
"That we are".
The men came in and joined them.
"Darling, it's almost midnight".
"Is it really? Why, it feels like they just got here".
Jennifer turned to Stacie.
"How long are you two staying?"
"Our flight leaves tomorrow night, after Jeff's meeting".
"Well, why don't we make a day of it? Shopping, mani/pedi, lunch…"
"Yes! Our traditional girl time".
"Perfect. Well, we better head to bed if we are going to shop all day tomorrow".
They went upstairs and each couple went to their own room.
Jennifer changed into her pajamas and got in to bed. A few minutes later, Jonathan joined her.
She snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I didn't mean to ignore you, darling. It's probably been at least 10 years since I saw Stacie".
"It's alright darling. It was nice to see you smiling again".
She sat up and looked at him.
"About the fundraiser.."
"Darling… I am planning the financial part of the evening. You are the best planner for the rest of it. I trust you, whatever you decide is fine".
"I decided that I want to plan it with you".
He kissed her, and pulled her close.
"I love you, Mrs. H."
"I love you, Mr. H."
He reached up and turned out the light.